Mrs. M. Athalie Range is, undoubtedly, a legend in her own time. With a public service career that spans half a century, she is renowned and respected as one of Miami’s most steadfast activists, and she has been described as “the political matriarch” of the African-American community.

She is also a prominent businesswoman, as the owner of Range Funeral Homes in Miami, Coconut Grove and Homestead, one of the most successful businesses owned by blacks in Florida. Mrs. Range was born in Key West in 1916, but moved with her family to Miami, where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. At an early age, she was identified as an individual possessing keen leadership abilities, a commitment to excellence, and an abiding interest in her community. With her husband, Oscar Range, she co-founded Range Funeral Home, but upon his untimely death in 1960, she was left with the responsibility of raising their four small children and running the business. All of this she accomplished with devotion and grace, becoming a licensed mortician to facilitate the work with the business.

Similarly, she stepped up to offer assistance when her children’s school needed help. Her first venture into community service was her experience as president of the Liberty City Elementary School PTA. Winning acclaim and support for her principled and articulate response to the challenges of the time, she ultimately made a successful bid for citywide office and became the first African-American and only the second woman to be elected to the Miami City Commission (1965-1970). After completing her city term, Mrs. Range was appointed by Governor Reuben Askew in 1970 to the state cabinet post, Secretary of Community Affairs. So valued is her experience and perspective that Mrs. Range was appointed to fill a six-week, unexpired term on the Miami City Commission years after her state government tenure – at age 73. Despite her many years of public service, she is perhaps best known for her quiet but forceful presence “behind the scenes” as a tireless and trusted advocate for the disadvantaged.

To honor her many, productive years of service, several hundred well-wishers from throughout South Florida paid tribute to Mrs. Range with “a Musical Celebration of Life,” a gala concert held at the Gusman Cultural Center for the Performing Arts on March 3, 1996. In the souvenir concert program, Arthur Teele, Jr. Chairperson of the County Board of Commissioners wrote, “we are honored to join . . . in paying tribute to M. Athalie Range, an extraordinary citizen of Dade County, who has paved the way for many African-American men and women in the fields of business and public service. She has helped shape the history of Dade County.”

Mrs. Range is the recipient of more than 150 awards and honors and has served on numerous boards and committees at the local, state and national levels. Among her distinctions are the Harriet Tubman Award from Mt. Tabor Church; the Silver Medallion Award from the National Conference of Christian and Jews (1970); appointment to the National Board of AMTRAK by President Jimmy Carter (1978); the Doctor of Humanities degree from the University of Miami (1984); and the Charles Whited Spirit of Excellence Award (1991). 

Source:    “A Musical Celebration of Life: A Tribute to M. Athalie Range,” program, March 31, 1996.